Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Rabbi Eliyahu and the Watches of Geulah?

Yiddishkeit.org is carrying this transcript of an interview with the saintly scholar, great rabbi and kabbalist, former chief sephardic rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu shlita, from the day before yesterday: [items in brackets I've added for explanation]

(27 Iyar/June 5) - Report from Israeli Television (Mabat):

Anchorman: We know that Moshiach [the redeemer] will arrive on a donkey, What's new is that there is already a specified hour; it will occur at 12:00, although it's not clear when, but this is at least what they can promise us from the study of Baba Baruch [saintly mystic, son of a great and godly saint and kabbalist, of southern Israel]. "Prepare for Moshiach" in this report from Uri Revach [reporter's name]...

Reporter: In this small room, the study of the kabbalist Harav [the rabbi] Mordechai Eliyahu, this watch is found. More than two years ago the Baba Baruch [southern mystic] had a dream where his father, the Baba Sali, Holy and revered Sephardic leader [saint and great mystic], revealed himself to him and requested of him to send this watch to Harav Mordechai Eliyahu. In the dream, he revealed to his son that when the hands of the watch reach 12:00, Moshiach will come.

Harav Mordechai Eliyahu: I was warned not to touch the watch. I don't open the watch, I'm afraid of it (smiling), but it resides with me.

Reporter: Initially, a gold watch was sent to Harav Eliyahu, but after a few months the Baba Sali returned to his son in a dream and asked him to send the silver watch. The watch was at 3:00 [when it arrived] say those who are close. Now, the hands stand at fifteen minutes to twelve [11:45].

Harav Mordechai Eliyahu: When the hands are like this and like this, it is a sign that the geulah is beginning. The gold watch is below, the silver watch is placed on top of the gold watch, because silver is rachamim (mercy) and gold is din (judgement). I wanted that the rachamim [mercy] should be above this, that the Holy One should help that the redemption should be speedily!

Reporter: Harav Mordechai Eliyahu [?unclear?] the story of the watches, but today for the first time we merited to photograph them.

Harav Mordechai Eliyahu: (Standing, with emphasis) We need to believe that Moshiach will come. And with our good deeds he will come even more quickly!